Top 5 beaches in France

If you speak of France and summer in the same sentence, the Cote d’Azure or some other beach is bound to come up in the conversation. In fact, France’s beaches are some of the best in Europe, and definitely some of the most stylish as well. While the Cote d’Azure is the most famous string of beaches in France, it isn’t the only one, nor the most exciting. If you want to skip the crowds and avoid the celebrities and their paparazzis parading on the beach, there are a few more French beaches that you should know about. Here are the top 5 beaches in France.

Villefranche sur Mer

photo by *pascal*/Flickr

Villefranche sur Mer is only a couple of minutes from Nice, and although it is often overshadowed by its more famous neighbor, there is much to be seen in this coastal town. With only about 6000 inhabitants, Villefranche sur Mer is not crowded at all, and the quiet and relaxed atmosphere of the town is just what you need for a leisurely exploration of the beach and the town.

La Grande Motte

La Grande Motte in Languedoc, not far from Montpelier, is a beach resort that will appeal to travelers who like to keep active. There are lots of water sports that can be practiced in La Grand Motte, like water skying and even surfing, and nature lovers will have more than enough opportunities to go hiking. The beach is very pretty, and the town is not bad either, if you don’t mind futuristic planned towns.

Cap Ferret, Gironde

photo by Larrousiney

Cap Ferret, or Cape Ferret in English, is a very interesting peninsula near Bordeaux, with beaches on both of its sides. Despite its closeness to the bustling city o Bordeaux, the beaches are quite and sometimes they seem even abandoned. Surfers and those who want to relax away from the modern world will find an oasis of peace and quiet here.

Sète, Herault

Sète is a quaint little town with an Occitan heritage, and it is nicknamed the Venice of Languedoc for its several canals. The beaches of Sète have fine sand and look very nice, but since they are also very thin, the noise of the traffic is never too far. But since Sète is not a very large town, this is never a problem. The southern part of La Corniche beach is slightly wider, so it’s somewhat quieter than the northern part.

Argeles sur Mer, Pyrénées-Orientales

Argeles sur Mer is not far from the much lerger Perpignan, but it is far more pleasant than cozy than the big city. The town has 7 kilometers of sandy beach, quite a few nice spots for scuba diving and some pretty challenging surfing spots. There are lots of facilities for beachgoers, most comendably facilities for disabled visitors.